HBO -- To Dang re: Medical Malfunctions

Dang: "Too many people from the older, WWII generation worshiped doctors and never questioned them. This must change. I encourage people to be investigative, active patients. Ask questions and demand answers. Know your rights. Assume that your doctor is an idiot (he assumes that you are). I had to physically block a nurse at KMC from administering a blood test to my then-wife. The nurse was insistent and refused to listen to me, calling in the supervisor. In her mind, she probably thought I was a pest and wanted me removed. But the supervisor pointed out, as I already knew, that the name on the test kit was not my wife's and the nurse was in the wrong. No apology, but I was glad that I was there and defensive."

DFO: You just reminded me of another horrible encounter with the medical industry. When my son was 3 months old, he underwent surgery to save his life from cancer. On the evening before, we were told by a nurse not to give him anything to drink. Anything. Including water. Can you imagine our anguish when his mother couldn't nurse him and he couldn't have water. The poor baby was almost dehydrated by the next morning when we returned to the hospital for the operation and learned from the doctor that the nurse had been misinformed. He was allowed liquids. Incredible.

Posted Feb. 21, 2006, 11:37 a.m.

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